Empowered by the recognition of the sport’s international federation, Equestrian Association of the Philippines president and party-list Rep. Carisa Coscolluela yesterday lashed out at the Philippine Olympic Committee for “depriving” her of the “right” to represent the sport in Wednesday’s POC general assembly meeting.

Coscolluela, who was voted EAP head in a recent special election not recognized by the POC, e-mailed the Inquirer a copy of the letter from Federacion Equestre Internationale chief executive and secretary general Alexander McLin, who expressed willingness to recognize her as the duly elected president of the EAP.

“Following thorough analysis of all document received pertaining to the elections ... we are ready to recognize the validity of the results of your special meeting,” McLin said in his letter from the FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The rival camp of equestrian and POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., however, dismissed the letter, saying it did not constitute outright recognition of Coscolluela and her group, which held their elections last April 23.

Cojuangco stressed that the letter specifically said that the FEI has the right to reverse its decision if presented evidence against the actions of Coscolluela’s groups, thus:

“We reserve the right to revise our decision should any evidence ... be presented to us by any of the involved parties before 13 May 2009.”

Cojuangco said that the FEI has already replied to him after he submitted evidence to prove “that the election of the Coscolluela group was illegal.” He did not elaborate.

During Wednesday’s POC meeting at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong, Coscolluela claimed that she was not allowed to speak before the assembly even though the POC chair, Rep. Monico Puentevella, ruled that she be allowed to take the floor.

“Mr. Cojuangco and Mr. Joseph objected to this ruling and the chair, knowing full well that rulings, unlike motions, cannot be objected to, entertained their objection,” said Coscolluela.

“It is unfair, not only to me but to all NSAs, that the POC arbitrarily and inconsistently applies rules depending on personality—favorably to those allied with it.”

I saw your letter to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose Cojuangco inquiring the status of the two factions in the BAP-SBP organization – the Congressman Luis Villafuerte-Prospero Pichay faction and the Manny Pangilinan faction – during our POC Executive Committee meeting on May 11, 2009.

I am amused by your letter, considering that it was you tried to gain the respect of Mr. Cojuangco in your attempt to secure his vote for your International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership.

When the POC chairman read your letter regarding your query, we all broke into laughter since it was the POC, after all, which was responsible for the expulsion of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) in 2005.

While you initially were against the BAP’s expulsion by the POC, you later made a complete turnaround and even kicked the BAP out of the FIBA family even if the national basketball federation has been a member since 1936.

I strongly advise you to respect the Bangkok Agreement and recognize the legitimate BAP-SBP leadership, which is the group of Villafuerte and Pichay.

The Villafuerte-Pichay group has followed all the legal procedures in holding an election on June 4, 2008. Still, the FIBA secretariat, through your guidance, continues to recognize the Pangilinan group, which held its own “election” on June 12, 2008 that is bereft of any legal basis since there was no quorum during the aforementioned “election.”

Because of your decision, our national basketball federation has been thrown into a huge mess and rumors have been going the rounds that the FIBA has become a corrupt organization under your leadership.

As a word of advice, do not again ask the POC any issues that have something to do with the BAP-SBP feud. The POC cannot be an impartial arbitrator and was guilty of illegal representation in the past when it entered into an agreement with the FIBA secretariat.

As POC Special Assistant to the President, all communication has to course to my table for proper review.

I hope you can settle this matter immediately so the FIBA will be able to regain its credibility and integrity throughout the world under you leadership as FIBA secretary general.